If we're doing math, it sure makes a lot more sense to take the guarantee and make as much as possible as a 20, 21, 22 year old (a few million in the NBA) then go back to college, get a degree, and earn whatever.

Staying guarantees your income at 20, 21, 22 = $0 (*Kentucky), for a chance at more later. Or Caris could break that foot again and never make a million.

I loved the piece. I'm not a good enough writer, but as to the point above about it not being "Bo's Car".... What if the analogy is rather the Ford Motor Company? Dominant early (Yost/Model T), really hit a sweet spot in the late 60's (Mustang)... then you've got the future stewards designing Mustangs of every model year. Some are hits, some are misses. Some guy tried a Turbo 4! Blasphemy! Recently they resurrected the Boss 302 - which was great unlike Hoke's throwback teams

The 2015s have it all, GT V8s, Turbo 4s, Hi Po- GT350s, just like how Harbaugh will beat you every way he can.

Car fanatics can be almost as bad as Michigan fans at times. I swear, the sighs of relief were palpable when Chrysler announced that the next Jeep would still have solid axles and removable doors. The lack of a fold down windshield angers the purists... but progress must be made. Designers of the Jeep and also the 911 have called themselves "stewards". The 911 is not thiers, rather they live with the history and the weight that the name carries every time they make an update.

Now that Norfleet and George Clinton have been avenged... hooray roster overanalysis!

I remain jealous of those who can't put on weight despite trying... and I think the real gleaning of information will be from spring to fall - once the fall numbers come out we'll see where Harbaugh really wants everyone.

They're making progress. Without Caris and Walton we're missing only about 28ppg. These guys weren't supposed to be cornerstones on a B1G team, but play about 10 minutes per game. As it is, they (and Spike!) are playing more like 35, because Michigan doesn't have any other guys to play.

Let's see what Camp Sanderson can do... I think that we're seeing what will be a very good team next year.

Petty and Winston were throwing to Michigan's WRs, so Harbaugh couldn't watch the WRs working out. If they were throwing to scrubs, or Funchess only, or anyone who's not on Michigan's current team, he could have observed/coached

Really well done. I mean, evicerating. The only positives I can think of is that Brandon donated a lot of money to the hospital. That's a nice thing to do, I guess.

Also... as evidence of what you call his one "Great Failure" I'm amazed that his quote about 'optimizing his personality to the best of his abilitites' (paraphrased) didn't make it. Dude sucked as a person and at his job. I mean, there were more failures that didn't even make this piece!! Former players having to buy tickets for their invited guests! People given seats for life having to fight for what Canham promised them!

I know Seth did what he could with the available data... but the small sample size means that so much of this is attributable to outside forces. Tate - for example, really skews things since he started 1 year, then sat behind Denard. in a better program, Tate never starts as a true EE Frosh.

It's interesting for what it is, but you'd really need more data over either more years or programs to try to reach any conclusions

Make all spots cap-free and have yearly limits. If a school magically was retaining 125 football players and about 80 female athletes over a 3 year period that could cause an investigation or something (are they cheating to pay less?)

Make revenue generating sport scholarships not count against the title IX cap - a bit tougher sell, as this would decrease the amount of available female scholarships

Make the school carry the maximum number of female scholarships at all times - for example if Football became capped at 25 players per year, the title IX number for football is now 125. That actually increases the number of available scholarships and provides more student-athletes with opportunities. The downside is it will cost Universities more, so they'd never go for it.

I voiced this in the comments, but maybe you have 25 "slots" of eligibility in each class, or a hard cap of 125. That way coaches could reward walk-ons after attrition in their "class". Very few teams would ever hit 125 - that would require everyone redshirting/staying or repopulating all attrition with Jucos, but I think that would work.

If someone transfers after his sophomore year, a walk-on could get his "2 years of scholarship eligibility". Honest question - are there holes in this idea?

How about flag football? I'd make it 7 on 7, everyone eligible, and have 2 "lines" or "games" - a skill players and a linemen game. Sure, the 7v7 with all those skill players would be fun... but what about having like Wilfork play QB?

When I was at Michigan (2005-2009) it was a Yost-only thing. I don't know how it started there, but the Band would play, band members would get a chance to solo and the crowd would dance. During the Big Chill that came to Michigan Stadium. I now definitely associate it with Michigan Sporting events... and no one from the B School had to conceptualize it.

I think yearly limits that encourage player retention would be a great thing. IMO the main issue with the yearly scholarship limits as opposed to an overall cap is the current wording/enforcement of Title IX. Currently you've got to have an equal number of men's and women's scholarships handed out each year - caps make sure that that happens. There are a few ways around that though:

Make all spots cap-free and have yearly limits. If a school magically was retaining 125 football players and about 80 female athletes over a 3 year period that could cause an investigation or something (are they cheating to pay less?)

Make revenue generating sport scholarships not count against the title IX cap - a bit tougher sell, as this would decrease the amount of available female scholarships

Make the school carry the maximum number of female scholarships at all times - for example if Football became capped at 25 players per year, the title IX number for football is now 125. That actually increases the number of available scholarships and provides more student-athletes with opportunities. The downside is it will cost Universities more, so they'd never go for it.

It'd be great if it worked. In terms of the walk on thing - let's say a 2015 enrollee goes pro in 2018 - could a 2015 walk-on get his scholarship? Have 25 "per class"? that would get trickier with redshirts, but would be a way not to lose that benefit

Good to know that you think 19 year olds can never be criticized. I'd love to know what happens to a kid who gets an A- or doesnt get a trophy in your world.

If my future (to this point non existent) children put something on the internet and take flack for it I'll have failed in not preparing them that the internet is a public domain. I put pictures of myself on facebook while in college that were fine when facebook was college kids only. I took them down once I started looking for jobs, seeing as how facebook expanded. The internet is public and forever. Consequences are a result of actions. How did this person expect to be received?

There's something to be learned from mistakes. If a child gets nothing but 100% positive feedback their entire life they will not be a functioning adult. Learning to deal with failure is an important skill. It is important to lose. To fail. to be sent back to the drawing board. I've had lots of dumb ideas. I don't make them public comments to a public body on a public space that is the internet.